As the summer travel season approaches, popular tourist destinations are planning to introduce new rules and fees to control crowds, according to a report from The New York Times, which outlines recent measures taken by popular tourist destinations Bali, Amsterdam, Paris and Milan.
According to The Independent, some towns have seen a surge in tourist numbers since the COVID-19 pandemic, surpassing the numbers seen in 2019. Several cities are now taking measures to prevent overtourism.
Why is there a tourist fee?
A common reason for increasing rates is to protect both the environment and building infrastructure.
The island of Bali, for example, requires a tax of about $9.49, or 150,000 Indonesian rupiah, on every tourist who visits the island, which the New York Times reports will be used to “help protect the island’s cultural and natural heritage, where growing tourism has created major problems such as garbage, water supplies and overcrowding.”
The Galapagos Islands and Hawaii have proposed similar measures, with the Galapagos Islands currently charging a $200 entrance fee, which they say “will support conservation efforts, improve infrastructure and fund community programs.”
In Hawaii, Governor Josh Green has proposed a “climate impact fee,” according to The New York Times, which he says “could raise $25 per visitor to raise $250 million a year that the state could use to prevent climate hazards, control erosion, strengthen infrastructure and protect parks.”
According to the Honolulu Civil Beat, this marks the third year that the measure has failed, and efforts to use tourist dollars for environmental conservation continue.
According to The Independent, the following places are also taking measures to prevent overtourism:
Venice, Italy. Portofino, Italy. Rome, Italy. Hallstatt, Austria. Athens, Greece. Boracay, Philippines. Maya Beach, Thailand. Okinawa, Japan. Amsterdam, Netherlands. Machu Picchu, Peru. Barcelona, Spain.
What should travelers know?
Some fees only apply if tourists cause a nuisance: Tourists in Rome face fines for soiling food, especially around tourist attractions like the Trevi Fountain, according to The Independent.
In Portofino, tourists who linger to take photos at popular Instagram spots could be fined for “creating a dangerous situation” – a situation that can be avoided.
As for other tourist taxes, visitors should research them thoroughly beforehand.
“All of this may be a headache for travelers, but in most cases the new fees and increased taxes represent just a fraction of the total cost of a trip,” The New York Times reported.
“All tourism depends on beautiful natural and cultural resources, and to be a sustainable destination, we have to protect those resources or they will degrade,” Megan Eppler Wood, managing director of Cornell University’s Sustainable Tourism Asset Management Program, told The New York Times.
